knock offs really aren't a bad thing.

as far as knock offs go, I can't get enough of them; I mean c'mon, designer style for a fraction of the price? oh yes please.
I just wanted to write a short bit sort of justifying the existence of knock-offs. They are actually completely legal because fashion designs aren't covered by copyright. It's said that knock-offs take away sales from the original designer, but they actually don't, because the people who are buying the knock-offs couldn't have been able to afford the original anyway. And it helps out the fashion design world in the long run, because it allows for the particular style or color to get worn out, paving the way and causing the fashion society to crave the next season's new styles.
I just don't understand why people hate on knock offs so badly.
but my number one piece of advice: if you are going to work a knock off, you better own to it; if someone asks you if that bag is a knock off, don't lie. because there's nothing wrong with a knock off.

a few of my fave knock offs:

Designer: David Yurman
Item: Pearl Cable Classics Bracelet
Price: $550

Knock off: Cable Car Bracelet from tobi.com

Price: $18

Price Difference: $532









Designer: Jeffrey Campbell
Item: Spiked Lita Boot
Price: $195

Knock off: Francheska Booties from tobi.com

Price: $72

Price Difference: $123

Designer: UNIF

Item: America Shirt

Price: $128

me, on the 4th of July (:

Knock off: Bought from eBay seller lukeyang918

Price: $12 including shipping

Price Difference: $116

the new crop top.

so I was shopping a week or so ago and went into Aerie to browse and saw something that I hadn't seen before but totally LOVE. it's sort of like a crop top, except it's like this corset bra thing; I think the official name of it is 'cropped corset.' anyway, I did a little web surfing and actually found out that Kristen Stewart wore the exact one I bought (except in a different color) to the 2012 Coachella Music Festival, proof here.

I bought this one (and it comes with straps): 

anyway, I thought it'd be a cool to do a blog post on ways to wear it since it's an interesting piece and I haven't seen a lot about it.

this is something I put together from things in my own closet:

Top: Forever 21
Bottom (my favorite jeans): Lucky Brand
Shoes: JC Penney

as you can see, I paired it with a tie-front blouse that is pretty see-through, so that the beautiful cropped corset can be revealed underneath, my favorite dark skinny jeans, and neutral wedges.

another way it could be worn is with anything high-waisted. I actually found a great outfit picture from polyvore.com that actually includes the exact cropped corset I have. such a cute ensemble!

here's some other cropped corsets I've found:

asos.com

Rare Floral Bow Front Top

$13

asos.com

Denim Bra Top with Love Heart Patch

$42

gojane.com

Cropped Tribal Corset Top

$21

Forever 21

Plaid and Lace Cropped Corset

$13

how to: nail designs.

as I've said before, I'm basically obsessed with nails and nail polish. just recently, I discovered "nail tape." you can buy it in rolls, and its this very tiny roll of tape that you can use to make nail designs. I have really been using it a lot too (good thing I bought several rolls!). it's not very expensive and it's also great for doing a french on your own. you can also leave the tape on (there are a bunch of colors you can buy) and make a design from that too. it's awesome! a plus is that it's only a couple bucks for several rolls. you can find them on ebay as well as amazon!
if you do purchase these, here's a tip: make sure the nail polish is completely 100% dry before you put them over as well as when you take them off.
                                                 

  

what I've been loving lately: ombre.

ombre. ombre. ombre.
that's all that's been going through my head these past few weeks. I'm obsessed to say the absolute least.
I just love how it looks; it can make any two (or more) colors look good with each other as they effortlessly fade into one another. it's a gorgeous, classic look.

ombre saw the red carpet at the 2011 Screen Actors Guild Awards, when Julia Stiles wore a very elegant black to white ombre dress. (to the right)











we've also seen ombre all over the runway. (to the left)




the designers in this picture:
top row: Alexander McQueen, ADAM, Diane Von Furstenberg
bottom row: Matthew Williamson, Diane Von Furstenberg, Badgeley Mischka




here's what I've purchased lately to satisfy my obsession:

Fading Ombre Maxi Dress

from tobi.com

$68

High Low Dip Dye Top in 'canyon coral'
from Lucky Brand
$50

these are literally my favorite shoes I've ever owned!
LC Lauren Conrad Platform Wedge Sandals
from Kohls
originally $70, but I got mine on sale for $40 (such a steal)






and lets not forget about the hair I had a few months back.... blue ombre tips.
my friend Cara Sinicropi actually did it herself; please make sure to check out her wonderful blog: vagabondias.com

 






As far as ombre hair goes, that has been huuuge lately. My favorite ombre hair is my idol Lauren Conrad (on left). Some other favorites are Isabel Lucas (left below) and Miley Cyrus (right below).














I've been looking online for some more affordable ombre options if any of you share my love for this look; here's some that I have found:

from Forever 21:

Ombre Trapeze Tank $20 and Ombre Layered Maxi Skirt $28







Fade Into Me Ombre Top
$34
from shopdailychic.com
this is for the edgier girl, the top has really cool shredded detailing on the back!







Gimme a Tint Top
$40
from modcloth.com

what I've been loving lately: nude nails.

Many many times I have been referred to as the nail polish girl; probably for several reasons. first, I have at least 40 different nail polish colors in my collection (if you can imagine it, I probably have it). second, I usually have a different color on my nails every week, and it usually isn't a color most people wear on their nails. and third, it takes me at least an hour to do my nails every time, because I am a bit OCD about it, everything must be perfect; my roommate last year even called me "the nail nazi."

ANYWAYS, I'm always looking for a new favorite nail polish and I think I've just found it! It's a nude color, which I originally didn't think I would like. . . .boy was I wrong.

The color I have is from the Sephora by OPI collection (my favorite nail polish brand, it has the perfect consistency), it's called Don't Feed the Hand Models. $9.50

They describe it as an opaque pink beige, if you're wondering, but I'll put a picture below.

I included the picture to the right (not my hand, it's from here) to show you what it looks like on. Oh my goodness, I just absolutely adore this color. and the bow design is cute too!

Also, it's the perfect color if you have a really bright outfit, perhaps you are color blocking and need a neutral nail, try this one -  you won't regret it!

scarves for summer.

Some of you might think that scarves are just for keepin ya warm and therefore reserve them for winter, well I think not! I do tend to stray from the knitted ones for summer, but cotton ones are great since they really aren't too hot & cozy.

Scarves are great for the summer- especially the bright colored ones!

I love them for the days that I'm feeling totally lazy and want to just put on a pair of jean shorts and a white tee and be done with it - then I just add a bright scarf! It's wonderful, because you don't have to mess with jewelry or anything, but you still look like you put effort into your outfit, when in fact you really did not. Who doesn't love a good cheat to the system?

I found this great picture for you guys on various ways to wear or tie a scarf; and if you click here, it'll take you to a link that tells you how to do each one, as well as gives you links to buy these different scarves online. It's awesome! #10 is my new fave.

I saw some really cute bright infinity scarves at American Eagle Outfitters just a couple days ago, if you're out and about and looking to buy one deff check them out. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any of them online :(

They do have some cute scarves on their Aerie website though!

I found this super cute one on forever21.com, it's 100% cotton and has some awesome colors in it that are great for summer, spring, or fall!

Vibrant Feathers Scarf $8.80

nothing says 2012 like orange!

It seems this year's color is orange, or rather tangerine, according to Pantone.

Personally, I'm diggin it. My only advice with this color: don't go overboard, keep it simple. Orange is very bold and you sort of got to keep a leash on it, or things will look...disastrous.

Here are some fun orange pieces I've found...

from Target, believe it or not! I actually have these, and they are sooo comfortable, and I am a total baby about wearing shoes with heels.

Mossimo Pollie Strappy Espadrille $30

Pointed Down Arrow Earrings from tobi.com

only $9

I am so obsessed with this dress from tobi.com!

It's a hi-low, but it's a more subtle one, which I like. You can definitely continue wearing this dress once hi-lows aren't so big anymore, since it isn't too dramatic.

No Going Back Hi-Low Dress in orange flame $52

Oversized Top with Drape Pockets from ustrendy.com $40

This is two trends in one: oversized AND orange.

Would look so cute with a pair of skinny jeans and neutral wedges!

definitely on the pricier side being $367, but it is soooooo cute!

I found it on revolveclothing.com and will dream of owning this Milly Ruffle Wrap Dress for ages!

it's all about the bright accessories.

I love the neon fad that's been going on for a while, but I think it should be limited to accessories and nails. Neon clothing is just a little much for me, there are of course exceptions, but I find them to be few and far between.

I just adore a neon bag! whether it be completely neon or neon accented, I just need it.

the famous Rebecca Minkoff Neon Mini M.A.C. is a bag I can only dream of. (it's Morning After Clutch if you're wondering) but if you find you can afford it, I highly suggest you invest! at roughly $200, its a beauty. if you prefer a more subtle neon bag, check out the Mini M.A.C. Straw Clutch. Both come in neon pink, orange, and yellow.

If you really like the straw one, I found a similar one on francescascollections.com, only comes in yellow but sooo cute and only $34. called the Ray of Light Clutch.

Another famous, but rather expensive, neon bag is the Cambridge Satchel.

It comes in four bright colors: yellow, pink, orange, and green. it costs 105 euros, which is roughly $130.

Target has always been relatively up to date on the latest fashion but lately they have been especially surprising me! their bright colored cambridge-inspired bags being the best one of all.

Xhilaration Orange Neon Pearl Top Handle Handbag $20

Xhilaration Pink Neon Pearl Top Handle Handbag $20

Mossimo Supply Co. Orange Printed Top Handle Crossbody $25

let's talk about this mint obsession.

the color, that is.
it seems everyone these days is completely obsessed with the color mint. sea foam. aqua. whatever you want to call it. they want it on their legs, nails, feet, and everywhere else on their body.
fortunately this isn't one of those trends that just isn't universal to all people. this color actually looks good on everyone, any skin color, any hair color.
the most sought out mint object seems to be the mint jeans. sort-of the new "white jean."I don't recommend wearing the color on your legs if you're a little bigger in that region, but anywhere else will be splendid on you.
here's some mint purchases I've recently made and have been totally loving:

Sara Belted Zip Dress from tobi.com, one of my favorite websites to shop online.

only $45, and the belt comes with it!

3" Chino Short from J.Crew

$45
this color is called 'daiquiri ice,' sounds delicious!

                       (some alternate ones, less expensive from forever21 

                        $17.80 Denim Dolphin Short) 

Nail Polish from Sally Hansen
roughly $3 at any drugstore
color is 'mint sorbet' #340








and here are some that are certainly on my wishlist:

Cashmere Open-Stitch Sweater from J.Crew

$248 in 'seaside aqua'

Asymmetrical Midi Skirt from forever21

 so trendy!

$15.80 

Viscid Watch from anthropologie

$58 in 'sky'

True Color Jeans in Mint $48

from francesascollections.com

Colored Skinny Jeans in Spearmint $68

from tobi.com